656. A Desperate Moment

Ramadas' task was to canvass passengers traveling long distance to board a particular bus. For every passenger brought by him to the bus, he would be paid a small sum as commission.

Ramadas would often lament to himself 'what kind of a profession is this?'

His dissatisfaction with his profession was the reason for his not getting married, despite having been repeatedly persuaded by his mother Kantimathi, to get married. 

"What is the point in marrying and having a family, when I don't have a steady income? How will I feed my family members on the days I don't have any earning?" Ramadas would argue with his mother. 

Kantimathi would counter him, saying, "When the need arises, you will find the means to earn the amount of money required to fulfill the need. Your wife may also be able to earn and supplement your income. Will it not be good for you?" 

But, Ramadas did not want to act on blind faith.

He found it amusing that some people came forward to offer their daughter's hand in marriage to him.

When Ramadas explained his financial position to them, they said, "Don't worry. You will be able to manage. I don't have a steady income too. But, I have been able to manage my family."

Ramadas wondered whether it was their ignorance or the desperation to get their daughter married off that was behind such a blind faith.

Ramadas had no income for two consecutive days. In spite of his repeatedly shouting the name of the destination of the bus and reaching out to people, no one boarded the bus he directed them to.

This situation was not unusual. During those times, he would manage with his savings.

But, this time, his savings had exhausted. Both Ramadas and his mother had nothing to eat that day. He would at least have a few cups of tea at the tea stall in the bus station, on credit. But, his mother couldn't have even a cup of tea.

Only if he earned something that day, he and his mother would have something to eat that night. The thought of how long his mother would be able to withstand hunger created a churning sensation in his gut. 

"What Ramadas, didn't get any customer today?"

Hearing the voice from behind, Ramadas turned back, 

Gokul!

Gokul was running a profession near the bus station. But, his profession was not something that he could speak about. 

"Just look at the sea of people throbbing this bus station. If you go near a small cluster of men standing alone and murmur the message into their years, a couple of them are bound to respond and come behind you. Take them to the spot and you will get a commission. This is guaranteed. Do you have an idea how many men standing alone here are craving for a female companion? Those men are desperately looking for someone to come to them and solicit them."

Gokul was right. Ramadas has noticed people working for Gokul approaching single men standing in the bus station, talking to them a few words and some of them following the men to a spot near the bus station. 

Sometimes, it had occurred to Ramadas that what those men were doing was easier and definitely more lucrative than his job of canvassing passengers to board a particular bus.

When Gokul made the offer to Ramadas, albeit in an indirect way, there was a momentary thought in Ramdas' mind that he could try doing that at least for that day, since he had no earnings till that moment.

But, Ramadas swept off that thought immediately with a strong resolve and told Gokul, "Sorry, sir! That job won't suit me."

He then moved shouting, "Madurai, Dindigul, Theni" hoping that some passengers heading to those places would hear him and come to him. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 654 (in Tamil):
InRAL pasi kANbAn Ayinum seyyaRk
sAnROr pazhikkum vinai.

Meaning:

Even when you see your mother starving, don’t do deeds that the virtuous people would deem contemptuous.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'gOkulin yOsanai' by the same author.) 

Verse 657 (Son)
Verse 655